Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd left us aged 89.
The star, with credits included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. The news was shared in a statement shared by her offspring, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with her mom in various films such as Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero and my profound gift as a mother”, stating that she was by her side as she died.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist along with caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
Ladd’s early career included supporting roles on television series including The Fugitive and that decade featured her performing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller the movie Black Widow plus funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned another supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This movie that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited me and Laura to London for a special screening and an event for us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
That decade included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire and White’s satirical show Enlightened. She additionally starred with actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her more recent television parts consisted of Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film featuring her and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a relative of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact throughout my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.